annual report 2017/18...victoria law foundation annual report 2017/18 5 our staff victoria law...

Annual Report

2017/18

Victoria Law Foundation Annual Report 2012/13

From the Chair 2

Our board 3

From the Executive Director 4

Our staff 5

About us 6

Community priority 9

School students priority 19

Profession priority 23

Organisation-wide priority 25

Financial Report 2017/18 26

Contents

2

From the Chair

This year at the Foundation has been one of anticipation, preparation and much hard work.

We have inducted a new Executive Director, maintained commitment to our publishing, events, schools and grants programs, as well as undertaking a great deal of ground work for the changes to come.

The legislation amending our statutory functions has passed the Victorian Parliament, and we will now embark on building a research unit to add to our ongoing work in education and grant making.

As a result, we shift our aim from helping Victorians to understand the law, to supporting the development of the justice system itself, through research in civil justice and strong engagement with the community.

As with all significant transitions, our challenge is to preserve the valued aspects of the Foundation as we adapt.

We are firmly of the view that in continuing to engage with the community through activities like Law Week, Law Talks and grant making, we maintain the essential character of the Foundation which has served us so well over 51 years. The relationships we have built keep us connected with a wide range of people in the justice and community sectors, which will also be vital in establishing an effective research agenda.

The law is of relevance to all Victorians – from those of us who spend a lifetime in its service to people who rarely think about its impact. The Foundation plays a key role in connecting people with their law in ways no one else does.

Our work in providing a strong and effective platform for Law Week means that organisations both little and large across the State can attract strong audiences and present information which is directly relevant to them. Whether that’s a mock hearing at the Coroners Court, an introduction to the Magistrates’ Court in Arabic, or an evening session on scams for a small Mallee community, we create the opportunity, programming, promotion and in some cases, the funding. Law Week 2018 was bigger than ever, with a higher number of events outside the cbd in the suburbs and regional centres.

Connecting the judiciary and other legal people with young Victorians through Law Talks means hundreds of students around the State meet judges and magistrates and have a clearer understanding of their work and the law they administer. Bringing the system to life in this way can have a powerful impact on their understanding of our democracy and on their own career aspirations. We also continue to work with people in the justice sector on plain language, to encourage clear and accessible communication about the law.

Our grants are carefully positioned to support projects which make a difference in the way that Victorians understand the law, and they suit projects identified by by small and medium organisations as relevant to their communities.

Over the years, the Foundation has produced an impressive suite of publications, covering an array of topics, from community legal issues to the history and architecture of our courts. With the transfer of this work to Victoria Legal Aid and others, it only remains to thank all those who have contributed their time and expertise in the production of these highly regarded materials.

Change is the only certainty and we look forward very much to the next chapter in the Foundation’s long and proud history.

The Honourable Hartley Hansen QC Chair

3Victoria Law Foundation Annual Report 2017/18

Our board

A six-person board governs Victoria Law Foundation.

Board members hold honorary positions and are appointed under the Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 (Vic).

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria nominates the Chair of the Board. The Victorian Bar, the Law Institute of Victoria and the Federation of Community Legal Centres (Victoria) Inc. each nominate a member, and the Attorney-General of Victoria appoints two members. Apart from the Chair, all members serve three-year terms.

Victoria Law Foundation Board

Left to right

Elizabeth BrimerNominee of the Victorian Bar

Belinda WilsonNominee of the Law Institute of Victoria

Claudia Fatone Nominee of the Federation of Community Legal Centres (Victoria) Inc.

Melissa CastanAppointed by the Attorney-General of Victoria

The Honourable Hartley Hansen QC Chair of Victoria Law Foundation

Stephen Roche Appointed by the Attorney-General of Victoria

Transition Subgroup

Ms Melissa CastanChair

The Hon Hartley HansenMember

Ms Claudia FatoneMember

Ms Lynne HaultainMember

Human Resources Subgroup

Ms Claudia FatoneChair

The Honourable Hartley Hansen QCMember

Audit, Finance and Investment Subgroup

Stephen Roche Chair

Elizabeth Brimer Member

The Honourable Hartley Hansen QC Member

Lynne Haultain Member

Belinda Wilson Member

Grants Subgroup

Elizabeth Brimer Chair

Melissa Castan Member

Claudia Fatone Member

Lynne Haultain Member

4

From the Executive Director

The Foundation is undergoing the most significant change in its operations for many years and 2017/18 has been a pivot point in that transition.

The year began with my arrival as Executive Director and ended with critical changes to our legislation, signalling a new phase for the Foundation. Meanwhile, we have not skipped a beat in delivering events, grants, training, publications, online materials and educational opportunities to help Victorians understand the law.

We introduced innovations which have been very well received, including our first community forum in October 2017. A panel of medical specialists and lawyers discussed the (then) proposed legislation on voluntary assisted dying before a sizeable audience at Deakin Edge in Federation Square. The discussion looked specifically at the implications of the process described in the legislation – for patients, family, health professionals and others like lawyers and insurers. It was a new way to deliver on the Foundation’s tradition of providing clear, accurate and timely information to connect Victorians with their law, and the forum will remain an annual feature on our calendar.

Our largest ever grant of $110 000 was made this year to the St Kilda Legal Service for their ground breaking work in legal support to the LGBTIQ community. The Foundation has an impressive history of providing early funding for socially relevant projects and we look forward to seeing this service expand in coming years. Other grants went to supporting legal outreach on Melbourne’s fringes; materials for young people with disabilities about online safety; and resources for young people on the impact of car related crime.

Law Week 2018 broke box office records with more events, higher attendance and strong feedback that the week is now firmly established in the minds of Victorians and the justice sector. We have more than doubled the number of events in two years and continue to make a concerted effort to increase activity in suburban Melbourne and regional Victoria.

The recommendations in the Victorian Government’s 2016 Access to Justice review had two major effects for us which have since been confirmed in amendments to the Victoria Law Foundation Act: the establishment of a research function, and the consolidation of community legal information with Victoria Legal Aid (VLA). In short, this means we move out of publishing and into research.

We will transfer our community publications like Your Will and the Law Help Guide to VLA in the near future, together with the resources on our Everyday-Law website. The consolidation of materials in one place under VLA makes good sense, and we are justly proud of the contribution we have made with well researched, up to date and accessible materials on common but important legal issues.

We are well advanced in planning our new research function in access to justice, particularly in civil law. This new chapter is an exciting one, in a context where the need for a strong evidence base to inform critical service delivery and policy decisions has never been greater. Broad ranging consultations on the most effective structure and scope for this function will continue as we turn the Foundation in this new direction.

I had the good fortune of coming into an organisation with a long established reputation for excellence and a highly committed and talented staff – which has made taking the reins here a pleasure and a privilege.

We look forward to making a valuable contribution through research, grant making and education for years to come.

Lynne Haultain Executive Director


Our staff

Victoria Law Foundation employs 11 full-time equivalent staff to help Victorians understand the law and use it to improve their lives. Our team has expertise in a range of disciplines including publishing, grant-making, education and events, communications and law. Their commitment to the Foundation’s priorities (community, school students and profession) enable them to deliver engaging and informative programs and events which have a positive impact on the lives of Victorians.

Left to right

Ashley Thomas Publishing Officer (from February 2018)

Melanie Rygl Grants Manager

Rebecca Tattersall Business and Finance Manager

Cristina Gutierrez PA to the Executive Director and Office Manager

Keagan Ryan Communications Coordinator – Digital

Clare Kennedy Legal Writer and Editor

Lynne Haultain Executive Director

Emilia Maubach Events Coordinator

Michael Wintrip Communications Officer

Stephanie Philbrick Communications Manager

Tenielle Hagland Executive Projects Coordinator

Jenny NguyenEducation Officer (from March 2018)

Fabiola Superina Education Manager

Absent

Cherry TunnockAdministration Officer

David Thomson Teacher-in-Residence

Cecilia BarberEducation Officer (until March 2018)

Georgia Angus Law Week Festival Director and Events Manager

Sharyn Casey Finance Officer

Stephanie McHugh Publishing Officer (until March 2018)

6

Community Our community programs focus on breaking down barriers to the legal system and empowering Victorians to access the law by improving their knowledge and level of engagement. This year, we continued to produce high-quality legal information both in print and online through the Everyday-Law website, a free and accessible public resource. We also helped Victorians engage with the law through informative and entertaining events during Law Week, Everyday-Law event listings, the Law Oration and our first community forum, which examined voluntary assisted dying, a legal issue of high public interest.

School students Our school student programs reach out to Legal Studies students in regional and metropolitan schools, giving them opportunities to engage directly with the people and organisations that make up our legal sector. The program is targeted at schools which otherwise might not have these opportunities and includes regional and metropolitan Law Talks programs, Classroom Law Talks and access to online resources. Through the ‘Teacher resources’ section of the Foundation’s website we make it easier for Legal Studies teachers to find relevant resources from a range of legal and community organisations, potentially benefiting all Victorian Legal Studies students.

Profession Legal and related services are the largest providers of legal information and advice in Victoria. Communicating complicated legal concepts to the general community is difficult and requires considerable skill. Our workshops and plain language resources help improve the way that the profession communicates legal information, and therefore on Victorians’ experience of the legal system. We work particularly with the community and legal assistance sectors, as well as with different levels of government and the private profession to make the law more easily understood for all Victorians. We have also provided specialist training to law students to ensure clear communication is practiced and valued early in their careers.

www.victorialaw foundation. org.au

Find out more at...

About usVictoria Law Foundation is a not-for-profit statutory body established under legislation in 1967. Our functions are set out in the Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 (Vic). We are funded through the Victorian Legal Services Board Public Purpose Fund, which draws interest from solicitor trust accounts.

Federation Square, Law Week


ProfessionSupport access to

justice by informing the legal sector about

relevant issues

CommunityEducate more

Victorians about the legal system and

how it works

School students

Engage school students to take a lifelong interest in the law and their

legal system

Our strategic priorities

8

12,000Victorians attended

Law Week

253,410visitors to

Everyday-Law

418,705print and electronic

editions


Victoria Law Foundation was founded in 1967 with the aim of making the legal system more accessible to Victorians. This year our work reached thousands of Victorians, including members of the public who attended events and used our online resources; students who attended Law Talks, commissioners and lawyers; and the profession who came to our training sessions.

Educating more Victorians about the law and their legal system

CommunityPRIORITY

The legal system can be intimidating and difficult for Victorians to navigate when they are trying to address an everyday legal issue, from a neighbourhood tree dispute to a parking infringement. We work on breaking down the barriers and empowering Victorians to access the law with clear information delivered in a range of engaging ways. We believe that making it easier for Victorians to find quality legal information and connecting them with people and ideas through events, works well to raise community awareness of the system, how to navigate it, and the support available.

Better access to legal information Improving access to information means producing accurate and easy-to-understand information about the law and the legal system. It also means making it easier for the community to find that information when and how they want it.

We work hard to ensure that our print and electronic publications meet the information needs of the community. Foundation staff have extensive expertise in developing community legal information, plain language and how to structure online resources. Together with brochures and fact sheets on particular issues, our Everyday-Law website makes finding resources on a huge range of legal challenges easier to find and available when you need them.

Engaging events Events are an effective way to reach a wide cross-section of the community with information about the law and the justice system. Events succeed in connecting Victorians with people with deep insights into the system – making learning about the law lively and often interactive.

We work closely with many organisations across the sector to deliver the events program. This year we had 91 partner organisations for the delivery of Law Week events alone, our largest number to date.

Making badges during Law Week

10

Understanding Victoria’s legal systemThe aim of the Foundation’s community publications has been to provide Victorians with high-quality legal information that is easy to understand. This year we reviewed all of our publications, updating and improving them in preparation for the transition to Victoria Legal Aid.

The production of six new editions has been a notable achievement in the last twelve months. This involved close engagement with expert reference groups, and a rigorous editing process to ensure each publication is accurate, accessible and in the best possible shape for transition. We also reprinted publications throughout the year to keep up with demand.

New editions were also required to keep up with law reforms such as sweeping legislative changes to the law around parking infringements. This led to an overhaul of the popular publication Parking the law and you, while changes in the responsibilities of pet owners led to the tenth edition of Dogs, cats, neighbours and you.

The third edition of Victoria’s Legal System was out in time for Law Week, updated with the cooperation of 29 legal organisations including courts, tribunals, government departments, the legal profession, independent legal services and law reform organisations. We thank them for their assistance and support.

Targeted at secondary and university students and members of the public who need a straight forward introduction to Victoria’s legal system, Victoria’s Legal System is ever-popular and available in print and online formats. We will maintain this publication in future to support our education program. The new edition is in considerable demand, through our own events and through strong community partnerships, meaning we get to an even wider audience across the state.

Legal information for Victorians: in print and onlineIn 2017/18 we produced new editions of our full suite of community legal information publications and increased the number of useful resources available online.

The state and federal parliaments have the power to amend existing laws and make new ones. Before a law is amended or a new one is made, considerable consultation, research and planning takes place to ensure that the laws are needed and will work. There are a number of bodies within the legal sector that undertake this work.

Victorian Law Reform Commissionwww.lawreform.vic.gov.au

The Victorian Law Reform Commission is an independent, government-funded organisation that develops, monitors and coordinates law reform in Victoria. The commission has a charter to consult the community and advises the Attorney-General on ways to improve and update Victorian laws. The commission’s major responsibility is to research issues referred to it by the Attorney-General (these are called references), but it also has the power to recommend minor changes to the law, without a reference, through its community law reform program.

The Victorian Law Reform Commission was established in 2001.

Sentencing Advisory Councilwww.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au

The Sentencing Advisory Council was set up to bridge the gaps between the community, the courts and government by informing, educating and advising on sentencing issues.

The council’s functions include the provision of statistical information on sentencing, including information on current sentencing practices; conducting research and disseminating information on sentencing matters; gauging public opinion on sentencing; consulting on sentencing matters; and advising the Attorney-General on sentencing issues.

Australian Law Reform Commissionwww.alrc.gov.au

The Australian Law Reform Commission is an independent federal agency that reviews Australia’s laws to ensure they provide improved access to justice for all Australians by making laws and related processes more equitable, modern, fair and efficient.

The commission cannot change the law, but rather makes recommendations to the government on how the law can be improved.

The Australian Law Reform Commission was established in 1975.

Laws in Victoria are made by the Victorian parliament.

Law reform

36 Victoria’s legal system

General

Victoria’s legal system

An introduction to the legal system in Victoria


Everyday-Law – improving the quality of community legal informationSince 2014 the Everyday-Law (EDL) website has aimed to improve the community’s access to quality legal information about the law and legal problems. This year, we maintained and improved the EDL website, actively promoting awareness of legal issues, services and events through blogs, videos and other short form content on social media. We also put energy into developing video content. Examples of our video work include interviews with representatives from outstanding Victorian support agencies, Youthlaw and the Court Network.

Together with the majority of our publishing work, most of the content on the Everyday-Law site will be transferred to Victoria Legal Aid in 2018/19.

Our publicationsThe community and partnership publications are being transferred to Victoria Legal Aid and partner organisations. We retain Victoria’s Legal System to support the education program.

Community Education In partnership

Bike Law

Dogs, cats, neighbours and you

Law help guide 2018

Neighbours, the law and you

Parking, the law and you

Your Will

Factsheets (updated):

• Buildingandrenovating

• Buyingandsellingproperty

• Changingyourname

• Buildingandrenovatingdisputes

Casestudiesonhumanrights

Danielle come to judgment

Death at Blue Hills

Dr Grant and his underpants

Melbourne’s legal precinct – excursion

Melbourne’s legal precinct – teacher notes

Wethejury–VCEteachernotes

Wethejury–VELSteachernotes

Wethejury–video

AbouttheCountyCourt

ArchitectureoftheSupremeCourtof Victoria

SupremeCourtofVictoria

General Advisors Websites

Victoria’s Legal System

What do I call the judge

Better information handbook

Plain language and good communication

Law help directory

Legal glossary

Disaster Legal Help

Everyday-Law

12

Our eventsFor over 50 years we have aimed to make the legal system more accessible to Victorians. One of the ways we do this is by delivering a program of stimulating events designed to engage the community and raise awareness of the law and legal system. Our success in 2017/18 can be seen through the depth and quality of our program of events aimed at the community, particularly during Law Week.

The Law and You Forum – Perspectives on voluntary assisted dyingOur inaugural The Law and You Forum focused on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Final Report and proposed legislation, its legal implications and the relationship with existing palliative care practice. The event was promoted widely to the community and aimed to educate the public on what the proposed changes will mean for Victorians.

Lynne Haultain, Executive Director of the Foundation, facilitated the panel discussion, Perspectivesonvoluntaryassisteddying to an audience of over 170 on Thursday 26 October at Deakin Edge in Federation Square. The panel members were Julian Gardner AM, former Public Advocate and member of the Ministerial Advisory Panel; Kathy Wilson, senior lawyer and specialist in succession and elder law; Dr Scott King, Clinical Director of Palliative Medicine at Calvary Health; and Steven Amsterdam, palliative care nurse and author.

The panellists had a range of valuable perspectives. Drawing on lengthy experience in thorny end-of-life issues, Julian Gardner provided great clarity into the development of the legislation and the results of that process. Dr Scott King shared his reservations about the legislation and described the impact on palliative care, and Kathy Wilson gave a clear assessment of the legal rights and obligations for a range of people who might be affected. Steven Amsterdam – author of TheEasyWayOut, a novel which deals with these issues – shared his personal perspectives on the new legislation and how it might impact patients and family members.


Law WeekLaw Week, held in May each year, is a great opportunity for the Victorian community to learn about their legal system and how it works. Coordinated by the Foundation, event partners from across the state deliver a range of informative and engaging events and community activities.

Law Week was a standout success in 2018 with overall attendance increasing from 9,724 in 2017 to around 12,000 in 2018. More organisations ran more events this year – 91 event partners staged 223 events – around a 40 per cent increase on last year.

Large attendances are testament to the quality of the program and the variety of events. Information sessions were rich in content and breadth, including free legal health checks at several locations across Victoria, as well as information sessions on a huge range of issues including fines, powers of attorney, small business, senior’s rights, youth law, wills and family law to name but some.

Other engaging events included the Coroners Court mock hearing, starring coroners themselves as the parties and presided over by the Victorian Coroner; concerts in the Supreme Court Library and an introduction to the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court, conducted in Arabic.

There were queues down Lonsdale Street for Courts Open Day, with a strong program from all participating courts including mock trials, information sessions, tours and exhibitions.

The Festival Hub at Federation Square was invaluable in generating wide public interest in Law Week Events, and was an accessible venue for people looking for help on specific legal issues. We maintained the larger footprint of the Hub (6m × 3m marquee) introduced in 2017, and the bold purple branding was highly effective in raising visibility this year. We had around 2,400 people stop by, up from 1,000 in 2017.

The Law Week program continued to grow in regional areas of Victoria, with more than 33 events in regional areas including Bendigo, Geelong, Quambatook, Shepparton, Gippsland, Traralgon, Albury, Ballarat, Castlemaine and Wangaratta.

The festival was well supported by the media, with features on radio, digital media and in print, and Law Week banners around the city played an important part in generating public awareness.

Our success at engaging more Victorians with the law in new and innovative ways through this year’s Law Week program, speaks to the community’s appetite to learn about their justice system. We are excited to build on this further in 2018/19.

14

Our grantsThis year the Grants Program supported organisations to deliver a wide range of projects, extending our other work in raising awareness about the law and improving legal information. We made the largest general grant to date, and for the first time we had a specific grant round for Law Week events – to engage more people and reach Victorians who perhaps wouldn’t normally encounter the justice system.

Our 2017/18 General Grants program supported four projects which have the potential to make a big impact and which respond to current legal need. The Foundation awarded our largest ever grant to a new outreach service for the LGBTIQ community. Other significant grants aided the development of resources for community groups with a specific need for legal

information about topics such as relationships and consent, and vehicle-related crime. We also supported Espresso Legal – a mobile coffee van run by lawyers, which offers free coffee and legal information to the fast-growing communities in the outer suburbs of Melbourne.


Applicant ProjectAmount

(excl. GST)

Gateway Local Learning and Employment Network Inc.

Impact: A resource package for young people about vehicle-related crime, including theft of motor vehicles, theft from motor vehicles, related crimes and co-offending. The resource package, aimed at 12 to 16 year olds, will consist of five short videos, materials and activities to guide classroom discussion, and information about legal and youth support services.

$42,000

Murray Mallee Community Legal Service (Mallee Family Care Inc.)

Consent and relationship project: Development of resources on consent and sexting aimed at teenagers with an intellectual disability. Two short animated videos will be produced and accompanied by a presentation and speaker notes.

$47,000

St Kilda Legal Co-Operative Ltd

Addressing LGBTIQ legal need: A health justice partnership pilot between St Kilda Legal Service and Victorian Aids Council.

$111,000

Whittlesea Community Connections Inc.

Espresso Legal: Espresso Legal, a mobile coffee van, free coffee and a team of lawyers, will visit new developments and isolated communities in the urban rural fringes of the City of Whittlesea where there are no, or few services.

$50,000

Total $250,000

General Grants 2017/18 budget: $250,000

In 2017/18, we funded four large projects to a total of $250,000.

The Grants Subgroup of our board considers General Grant applications with reference to our statutory functions, strategic priorities and guiding principles. This year’s priority was helping Victorians understand the law.

16

Small Grants 2017/18 budget: $50,000

Small Grants give organisations the opportunity to act quickly to meet immediate need, to deliver low-cost, high-impact projects or to scope larger ones. Small Grants are made up to $5,000 (excl. GST).

This year, we also offered a Law Week grant round. Grants of up to $3,000 (excl. GST) were available to deliver a community event during Law Week 2018.

In 2017/18, we awarded seven Small Grants and 14 Law Week Grants. Our Executive Director awards our Small Grants and Law Week Grants, with reference to the Foundation’s statutory functions, our strategic priorities and guiding principles.

Applicant ProjectAmount

(excl. GST)

Youthlaw Smart Justice for Young People strategy development: To develop a plan to advocate for improvements to Victoria’s youth justice system.

$5,000

Victorian Council for Civil Liberties Inc.

Myki Fines website update: To help users navigate the fines and infringements system.

$4,985

Barwon Community Legal Service Inc.

Karenni Wills workshop: Resources to complement a one-day will-making workshop for refugee Karenni women.

$4,449

North West Area Mental Health Service (Melbourne Health)

Mental health consumer rights video: A video for consumers and carers to understand the rights of compulsory patients under the Mental Health Act 2014 (Vic.).

$5,000

Sir Zelman Cowan Centre, Victoria University

Faith-based governance and dispute resolution conference: A two-day conference on best practice governance for faith-based organisations.

$2,500

Northern Community Legal Centre Inc.

Refugee International Women’s Day legal engagement and celebration: An event for newly-arrived Syrian and Iraqi refugees to provide information, particularly around family violence, and support available to women.

$1,000

St Kilda Legal Co-Operative Ltd

Additional funding for sex worker factsheets: Additional funding to develop resources as a result of community consultations.

$1,000

Total $23,934


Law Week Grants

Applicant Project Amount (excl. GST)

Bendigo Writers Festival (Greater Bendigo City Council, The Capital)

Justice at the Gaol: A conversation between barrister and human rights advocate Julian Burnside and ABC presenter Natasha Mitchell at the Old Castlemaine Gaol.

$1,900

Peninsula Community Legal Centre Inc

Legal health check pop-up clinic: Held in two neighbourhoods where there is legal need.

$3,000

Eastern Community Legal Centre Inc

Law Week in the library: Legal information stalls across nine libraries in Whitehorse, Manningham, Knox and Maroondah.

$3,000

Royal Historical Society of Victoria Inc

Guided walking tours: The history of Melbourne’s legal precinct: presenting the history of the fascinating legal precinct.

$2,500

South Kingsville Community Centre Inc

Road rules and the law: An information session about driving offences and road laws.

$1,500

Quambatook Community Resource Centre

Quambatook – Legal services in the Mallee: The first legal event in Quambatook – community legal information, legal health checks and a community supper.

$720

Northern Community Legal Centre Inc

Going to Court: Partnership with the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court and Arabic Welfare to introduce newly-arrived Syrian and Iraqi refugees to the Australian legal system.

$1,000

Darebin Community Legal Centre Inc

Legal health checks for Austin Hospital patients $1,600

Gippsland Community Legal Service (Anglicare Victoria)

RESPECT – Understanding the law: A community court room drama – I’vekilledmybestmate.

$1,500

Fitzroy Legal Service Inc We stand together: Presenters from Victoria Police, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and Fitzroy Legal Service on racial and religious motivated crime.

$2,400

Banyule Community Health Deadly Connection – Legal health matters to the Aboriginal community: A community day at the local Aboriginal gathering place – Barrbunin Beek.

$2,500

South Sudan Child First Education Inc

Southern Sudan Voice – A Dialogue Theatre project: Addressing the implications of Australian laws for the South Sudanese community, particularly in relation to themes of youth justice, racial profiling, and intergenerational conflict.

$3,000

Victorian Council for Civil Liberties Inc

Justice Diverted? Prosecutorial discretion and the use of diversion schemes: A panel discussion into diversion schemes in Victoria and issues that surround the requirement that the prosecution consent to their use.

$1,500

Sisters in Crime Australia Inc

Stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to keep society safe: Stories of police officers, homicide detectives, paramedics, doctors, forensic scientists, a trauma cleaner and an author who writes about murders.

$800

Total $26,920

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113teacher resources

on website

1,882students attended

Law Talks

92schools involved

in Law Talks


Since its early days the Foundation has supported student legal education, with recent focus on helping secondary students get a better understanding of the law, how they might navigate the system and make informed decisions throughout their lives.

Encouraging school students to take a lifelong interest in the law

School students

For studentsOur school student programs support VCE Legal Studies students in metropolitan and regional schools, particularly those that might not otherwise have these opportunities. Each part of the program is tailored to the VCE Legal Studies curriculum and connects students with members of the legal profession who share their knowledge and experiences. We encourage students to understand the relevance of the law in their lives, their rights and responsibilities within the Victorian legal system, and the legal structure which underpins our democratic system.

We deliver a range of school programs. Regional Law Talks is a two-day interactive program in regional and rural Victoria delivered to multiple classes of Year 11 and 12 VCE Legal Studies students in two regional centres. Metropolitan Law Talks is a one-day program for Melbourne-based students, which we run twice a year. For Classroom Law Talks, individual members of the profession either visit schools and present to classes, or students visit a court. In December 2017, we added a one-day Head Start program for Year 11 students intending to study Legal Studies in year 12.

For teachersWe support all Victorian Legal Studies teachers by making it easier for them to find the resources produced across the sector. This involves helping to coordinate the development of these resources and ensuring their accessibility through our searchable Teacher resources database on the Foundation’s website. Teacher resources underwent a major update in 2018 to align with the introduction of the new VCE Legal Studies curriculum.

PRIORITY

Students enjoy Metropolitan Law Talks

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Helping regional students engage with the lawOur Regional Law Talks program offers students from regional areas an interactive two-day program to better understand topics covered by the Legal Studies curriculum and build interest in the law more broadly. In 2017/18 we visited Sale and Mildura to bring Law Talks to 420 students.

A highlight of Sale Law Talks program in August 2017 was a mock culpable driving trial run by the Murray Mallee Community Legal Centre, which was covered by the local Channel Nine news crew. This session, held at a court and involving the students as participants, was featured on the evening news.

Mildura Law Talks ran over two hot days in March 2018. It included four presentations by Juries Commissioner Paul Dore at the local court; and for the first time, a session from Youthlaw about the rights of young people.

In both regional programs, students engaged with the speakers, not only during the formal sessions, but also during breaks and over lunch, with informal discussions, questions and photos. Opportunities like this to interact with members of the justice sector in less formal ways are powerful in helping students to recognise the people and processes behind the law, as well as potentially inspiring them in their own career choices.

Our first Head Start program was in Bendigo in December 2017, when 150 students from schools in Bendigo and surrounds attended a series of presentations to prepare them for Unit 3 & 4 Legal Studies in 2018. The day was very successful, with great feedback, and it is our intention to run it again in December 2018.

As always, we are grateful to the members of the legal sector who volunteer their time and expertise to deliver Regional Law Talks. Without their goodwill, generosity and support, this program would not be possible.

Instilling a lifelong interest in the law among metropolitan students Metropolitan Law Talks are one-day programs for Year 12 Legal Studies students from schools across Melbourne, prioritising those identified as in low socio-economic areas. The program, run twice a year, includes presentations delivered by senior members of the judiciary, practitioners and leaders of key legal bodies, and includes a session on how to succeed with Legal Studies assessment tasks and exams. The presentations relate directly to the Legal Studies curriculum, but also aim to encourage the students to have a greater understanding of the parts the law and legal system play in their lives.

We have a roster of regular presenters who very generously give of their time to speak to young Victorians. Former Victorian Attorney-General and Director of RMIT’s Centre for Innovative Justice, Rob Hulls continues to inspire and engage all those who hear him speak, as does Victorian Ombudsman, Deborah Glass OBE. Youthlaw have come on board as regulars, which provides the added dimension of teaching students about their rights and responsibilities within the Victorian legal system.

Law TalksOur Law Talks program gives VCE Legal Studies students the chance to hear from and meet experts from some of our most significant legal bodies, including the courts, the Victorian Ombudsman, the Victoria Law Reform Commission and the Juries Commissioner’s Office.

Our students enjoyed … an opportunity to speak with His

Honour Judge Keogh. It was very interesting and valuable and we were very thankful for his time and the generosity of his team.

Legal studies teacher at Classroom Law Talks


Classroom Law Talks grows The Classroom Law Talks program takes the law and legal system on the road to visit schools in regional areas of Victoria. In 2017/18, Classroom Law Talks reached more than 932 students by connecting schools with judges, barristers and legal practitioners, either in their classrooms or at local courts for a one to two hour session in a small group. Classroom Law Talks is an effective way to address the disadvantage caused by distance.

We continued to work closely with the Supreme and County Courts and the Victorian Bar Student Engagement Committee to ensure the maximum number of students and schools could participate in this program. We connected schools with Youthlaw, and the Juries Commissioner Paul Dore to deliver talks. We also arranged for Deakin University to send one of their senior academic staff to speak at a school Constitutional Convention held at Monivae College in Wodonga.

Over the past twelve months 92 schools have been involved in Law Talks with 1,882 students attending the various programs. The updated Teachers Resources receive over 6,000 site visits per month, heading towards 70,000 hits for the year.

Rob Hulls engages with students during

Metropolitan Law Talks

Other events We’ve attended two careers expos this year,

at Dandenong and Charles Latrobe High Schools, involving over 450 VCE students. With us were the Magistrates’ Court registrar training team and some current law students who could speak to students about their options and experience.

We are actively involved with a number of education groups, including the Legal Education Forum and the Victorian Commercial Teachers Association, and will join the Civics and Citizenship Network for teachers later this year.

Law Talks by the numbers Students

Metropolitan Law Talks 380

Headstart Bendigo 150

Regional Law Talks (Mildura & Sale) 420

Classroom Law Talks 932

22

104attendees at

Better information workshops

124attendees at plain language training

595plain language

resources


We aim to help Victorians understand the law by improving the way the profession communicates.We offer training, provide access to a range of resources on good communication and share our expertise and knowledge.

Towards better legal information: working with the legal sectorThe Better Information program supports the justice sector in developing expertise in effective, contemporary communication techniques.

Better Information WorkshopsA key component of the program is the Better Information Workshops. These free workshops are held for legal practitioners, community workers and publishing and communications professionals who produce community legal information in print and digital formats. The workshops continue to be popular in the sector, with representatives from the courts, community legal centres, government and private practices attending regularly.

This year we offered sessions on translating legalese for non-English speaking audiences, design thinking, getting the most out of your smartphone for storytelling, and plain language in community legal education. Not only do these workshops provide valuable tips for attendees to take away and implement in their workplace, they are also a great networking opportunity for those who attend.

Plain language skills for the professionThree times this year, we ran plain language training for the justice sector as an all-day intensive workshop. These workshops are very popular and book out fast – evidence that the appetite for plain language remains strong. We prioritise people who are providing community legal information.

Support access to justice by educating the profession

ProfessionPRIORITY

Online resources to support legal professionals wherever they are The Better Information section of our website holds a comprehensive set of online resources to help legal professionals with effective community legal information.

Our Better information toolkit draws together the best resources from this section of the website as a go-to resource. It includes the Better information handbook, the VLAF Online Legal Information Guidelines, our legal glossary, a plain language guide and a report on legal information in languages other than English. One online location makes these tools easier for professionals to find and use. In addition, the plain language resources database provides access to the best plain language resources from Australia and around the world.

Working with lawyers at the start of their careerTo help train the profession in effective communication, we have also delivered plain language training workshops to law students. Helping law students understand the value of writing clearly early in their career not only benefits them throughout their degree, but also helps them stand out in the profession. Often delivered in partnership with law student societies, this training requires students to take an audience-centred approach to their writing and provides practical tips on what will be expected of them in the legal workplace.

From 2019, we will no longer deliver training to law students, but our extensive database of online resources is available to help students with their writing and communication skills.

Community publications produced by Victoria Law Foundation

24

424,630website visitors

$2,037,304on programs

152%increase in website

visitors


Each of our initiatives must speak directly to our core objective of helping Victorians understand the law. Good ideas and the professional delivery of each program is critical to our success. Excellence in administration, risk management, communications and human resources are key to the Foundation’s achievements and sustainability.

Supporting our work

Organisation-wide

Reaching our audiencesFor our programs to be successful, our audiences need to know about them, and for that to occur effective communications are essential. We continue to develop and implement communication strategies to amplify our impact, including dynamic content like video to promote our work, blog posts distributed through Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, news articles on Everyday-Law and increased activity across all social media channels. This year we also started expanding the reach of our events through live-streaming technologies, used particularly during Law Week.

The success of this work is in strong and diverse attendance at events and high demand for our publications and resources, and we remain committed to exploring new technological opportunities.

PRIORITY

The annual Legal Laneway Breakfast

26

Victoria Law Foundation

Financial Report 2017/18

Income statement 27

Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income 28

Statement of financial position 29

Statement of changes in equity 30

Statement of cash flows 31

Notes to financial statements 32

Foundation members’ declaration 46

Independent auditor’s report to the 47 members of the Victoria Law Foundation


Note2018

$2017

$

Revenue

Legal Services Board Public Purpose Fund 3 1,880,739 1,849,298

Managed funds distributions, dividends and other gains 3 115,381 181,898

Realised gains on investments 3 (29,352) 206,366

Other income 3 85,360 81,131

3 2,052,128 2,318,693

Less: expenses

Depreciation expense 4 (24,951) (26,745)

Employee benefit expense 4 (1,127,545) (1,096,749)

Occupancy expense (90,121) (87,152)

Program expenses (555,471) (486,928)

Administrative expenses (148,454) (232,779)

Website development expense (12,802) (22,141)

Other expenses (95,516) (81,871)

(2,054,860) (2,034,365)

Surplus / (deficit) from continuing operations (2,732) 284,328

Income statementFor the year ended 30 June 2018

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

28

Note2018

$2017

$

Surplus / (deficit) for the year (2,732) 284,328

Other comprehensive income

Change in fair value of available for sale financial assets 101,340 (129,521)

Transfer of revaluation reserve relating to disposed investments 29,352 (27,678)

130,692 (157,199)

Other comprehensive income for the year 130,692 (157,199)

Total comprehensive income 127,960 127,129

Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive incomeFor the year ended 30 June 2018




Note2018

$2017

$

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents 5 281,879 289,800

Trade and other receivables 6 82,296 89,462

Other current assets 7 19,032 21,283

Total current assets 383,207 400,545

Non-current assets

Available-for-sale financial assets 8 2,778,236 2,515,161

Plant and equipment 9 72,412 90,415

Total non-current assets 2,850,648 2,605,576

Total assets 3,233,855 3,006,121

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables 10 200,241 148,015

Provisions 11 235,110 193,121

Total current liabilities 435,351 341,136

Non-current liabilities

Provisions 11 20,775 15,216

Total non-current liabilities 20,775 15,216

Total liabilities 456,126 356,352

Net assets 2,777,729 2,649,769

Equity

Reserves 12 214,318 83,626

Accumulated funds 13 2,563,411 2,566,143

Total equity 2,777,729 2,649,769

Statement of financial positionAs at 30 June 2018

30


Reserves $

Retained earnings

$

Total equity

$

Balance as at 1 July 2016 240,825 2,281,815 2,522,640

Surplus for the year - 284,328 284,328

Change in fair value of available-for-sale financial assets (129,521) - (129,521)

Transfer of revaluation reserve relating to disposed investments (27,678) - (27,678)

Total comprehensive income for the year (157,199) 284,328 127,129

Balance as at 30 June 2017 83,626 2,566,143 2,649,769

Balance as at 1 July 2017 83,626 2,566,143 2,649,769

Deficit for the year - (2,732) (2,732)

Change in fair value of available-for-sale financial assets 101,340 - 101,340

Transfer of revaluation reserve relating to disposed investments 29,352 - 29,352

Total comprehensive income for the year 130,692 (2,732) 127,960

Balance as at 30 June 2018 214,318 2,563,411 2,777,729

Statement of changes in equityFor the year ended 30 June 2018



Note

2018

$2017

$

Cash flow from operating activities

Payment of approved grants and projects (198,755) (210,874)

Funding from Legal Services Board Public Purpose Fund 1,880,739 1,849,298

Payments to suppliers and employees (1,734,967) (1,748,760)

Interest received 23,147 16,254

Sponsorship and project income 45,000 42,000

Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities 14(b) 15,164 (52,082)

Cash flow from investing activities

Proceeds from sale of investments 2,231,348 2,739,796

Proceeds from sale of plant and equipment - 1,282

Payment for plant and equipment (6,948) (45,775)

Payment for shares and managed fund acquisitions (2,380,079) (2,628,773)

Dividends and distributions received 115,381 181,898

Recoupment of imputation credits received 17,213 22,877

Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities (23,085) 271,305

Cash at beginning of the financial year 289,800 70,577

Net increase / (decrease) in cash held (7,921) 219,223

Cash at end of financial year 14(a) 281,879 289,800

Statement of cash flowsFor the year ended 30 June 2018

32

Note 1: Summary of significant accounting policies

The financial report is a general purpose financial report that has been prepared in accordance with the AustralianCharitiesandNot-for-profitsCommissionAct2012, the Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 and Australian Accounting Standards, Interpretations and other applicable authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Standards Board.

The financial report covers Victoria Law Foundation as an individual entity. Victoria Law Foundation is a body corporate pursuant to the Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009. Victoria Law Foundation is a not-for-profit entity for the purpose of preparing the financial statements.

The following are the significant accounting policies adopted by the Foundation in the preparation and presentation of the financial report. The accounting policies have been consistently applied, unless otherwise stated.

(a) Basis of preparation of the financial report

Historical Cost Convention

The financial report has been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by revaluations to fair value for certain classes of assets and liabilities as described in the accounting policies.

Fair value measurement

For financial reporting purposes, ‘fair value’ is the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants (under current market conditions) at the measurement date, regardless of whether that price is directly observable or estimated using another valuation technique.

When estimating the fair value of an asset or liability, the entity uses valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data are available to measure fair value, maximising the use of relevant observable inputs and minimising the use of unobservable inputs. Inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value are categorised into three levels according to the extent to which the inputs are observable:

• Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity can access at the measurement date.

• Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

• Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

(b) Going concern

The financial report has been prepared on a going concern basis.

The Foundation is dependent on funding from the Legal Services Board in order to fund the majority of its operations. At the date of this report the members’ have no reason to believe that this funding will not continue to support the operations of the Foundation in to the future.

(c) Revenue

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised upon delivery of goods to customers.

Funding revenue received from the Legal Services Board Public Purpose Fund is brought to account upon receipt.

Dividend and distribution revenue is recognised when the right to receive a dividend or distribution is established.

Interest revenue is measured in accordance with the effective interest method.

All revenue is measured net of the amount of goods and services tax (GST).

Notes to financial statementsFor the year ended 30 June 2018


(d) Grants provided

The Foundation brings into account as a provision all amounts approved under the Foundation’s Grants Program. Recognition of the provision occurs when the formal approval of a grant is given by the Foundation and an acceptance of conditions of grant is signed by the grant recipient.

(e) Taxation

Income Tax

No provision for income tax has been raised as the Foundation is exempt from income tax under Division 50 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

(f) Financial instruments

Classification

The Foundation classifies its financial assets in the following categories: financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables and available-for-sale financial assets. The classification depends on the nature of the item and the purpose for which the instruments are held.

Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. Loans and receivables are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.

Available-for-sale

Available-for-sale financial assets include any financial assets not included in the above categories or are designated as such on initial recognition. Available-for-sale financial assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Unrealised gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are taken directly to equity. The cumulative gain or loss is held in equity until the financial asset is de-recognised, at which time the cumulative gain or loss held in equity is reclassified from equity to profit or loss as a reclassification adjustment.

Non-listed investments for which the fair value cannot be reliably measured, are carried at cost and tested for impairment.

(g) Plant and equipment

Plant and equipment is stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and, where applicable, any accumulated impairment losses.

Plant and equipment

Plant and equipment is measured on the cost basis.

Depreciation

The depreciable amount of all property, plant and equipment is depreciated over their estimated useful lives commencing from the time the asset is held available for use, consistent with the estimated consumption of the economic benefits embodied in the asset.

Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of either the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the improvements.

34

Note 1: Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Class of fixed asset Depreciation rates Depreciation basis

Leasehold improvements at cost 2.5–40% Straight line

Furniture, fixtures and fittings at cost 5–33% Straight line

Computer equipment at cost 10–33% Straight line

Library at cost 5% Straight line

Library

The cost of purchases which represent long term holdings of the library are capitalised and subsequently depreciated. Expenditure on library materials of a short term reference nature are expensed in the year of purchase.

(h) Impairment of non-financial assets

Assets with an indefinite useful life are not amortised but are tested annually for impairment in accordance with AASB 136. Assets subject to annual depreciation or amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances arise that indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may be impaired.

An impairment loss is recognised where the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount of an asset is defined as the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and value in use.

Where the future economic benefits of an asset are not primarily dependent on the asset’s ability to generate net cash inflows and where the Foundation would, if deprived of the asset, replace its remaining future economic benefits, the recoverable amount is assessed on the basis of the asset’s depreciated replacement cost which is defined as the current replacement cost less accumulated depreciation calculated on the basis of such cost.

(i) Leases

Leases are classified at their inception as either operating or finance leases based on the economic substance of the agreement so as to reflect the risks and benefits incidental to ownership.

Operating leases

Lease payments for operating leases, where substantially all the risks and benefits remain with the lessor, are charged as expenses in the periods in which they are incurred, net of any incentives received from the lessor.

Lease incentives received under operating leases are recognised as a liability and amortised on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease term.

(j) Employee benefits

Employee benefits comprises wages and salaries, annual, accumulating sick leave and long service leave, and contributions to superannuation plans.

Liabilities arising in respect of wages and salaries, annual leave, accumulated sick leave and any other employee benefits expected to be settled within twelve months of the reporting date are measured at their nominal amounts based on remuneration rates which are expected to be paid when the liability is settled. All other employee benefit liabilities are measured at the present value of the estimated future cash outflow to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting date.



Contributions made by the Foundation to an employee superannuation fund are recognised as an expense as they become payable. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that a cash refund or a reduction in the future payment is available.

Liabilities arising in respect of wages and salaries, annual leave and any other employee benefits (other than termination benefits) expected to be settled wholly before twelve months after the end of the annual reporting period are measured at the (undiscounted) amounts based on remuneration rates which are expected to be paid when the liability is settled. The expected cost of short-term employee benefits in the form of compensated absences such as annual leave and accumulated sick leave is recognised in the provision for employee benefits. All other short-term employee benefit obligations are presented as payables in the statement of financial position.

(i) Long-term employee benefit obligationsThe provision for other long-term employee benefits, including obligations for long service leave and annual leave, which are not expected to be settled wholly before twelve months after the end of the reporting period, are measured at the present value of the estimated future cash outflow to be made in respect of the services provided by employees up to the reporting date. Expected future payments incorporate anticipated future wage and salary levels, durations of service and employee turnover, and are discounted at rates determined by reference to market yields at the end of the reporting period on high quality corporate bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid, and that have terms approximating to the terms of the related obligation. For currencies in which there is no deep market in such high quality corporate bonds, the market yields (at the end of the reporting period) on government bonds denominated in that currency are used. Any remeasurements for changes in assumptions of obligations for other long-term employee benefits are recognised in profit or loss in the periods in which the change occurs.

Other long-term employee benefit obligations are presented as current liabilities in the statement of financial position if the entity does not have an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, regardless of when the actual settlement is expected to occur. All other long-term employee benefit obligations are presented as non-current liabilities in the statement of financial position.

(k) Borrowing costs

Borrowing costs including interest expense calculated using the effective interest method, finance charges in respect of finance leases, and exchange differences arising from foreign currency borrowings to the extent that they are regarded as an adjustment to interest costs.

Borrowing costs are expensed as incurred.

(l) Goods and services tax (GST)

Revenues, expenses and purchased assets are recognised net of the amount of GST.

The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is included as part of receivables and payables in the Statement of Financial Position.

Cash flows are presented in the statement of cash flows on a gross basis, except for the GST component of investing and financing activities, which are disclosed as operating cash flows.

(m) Comparatives

Where necessary, comparative information has been reclassified and repositioned for consistency with current year disclosures.

36

Note 2: Accounting standards issued but not yet effective

The AASB has issued a number of new and amended Accounting Standards and Interpretations that have mandatory application dates for future reporting periods, some of which are relevant to the Foundation. The Foundation has decided not to early adopt any of these new and amended pronouncements. The Foundation’s assessment of the new and amended pronouncements that are relevant to the Foundation but applicable in future reporting periods is set out below.

AASB 9: Financial Instruments (December 2014), AASB 2014-7: Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 9 (December 2014), AASB 2014-8: Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 9 (December 2014) – Application of AASB 9 (December 2009) and AASB 9 (December 2010) (applicable for annual reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2018).

These Standards will replace AASB 139: Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. The key changes that may affect the Foundation on initial application of AASB 9 and associated amending Standards include:

• simplifying the general classifications of financial assets into those carried at amortised cost and those carried at fair value;

• permitting entities to irrevocably elect on initial recognition to present gains and losses on an equity instrument that is not held for trading in other comprehensive income (OCI);

• simplifying the requirements for embedded derivatives, including removing the requirements to separate and fair value embedded derivatives for financial assets carried at amortised cost;

• requiring an entity that chooses to measure a financial liability at fair value to present the portion of the change in its fair value due to changes in the entity’s own credit risk in OCI, except when it would create an ‘accounting mismatch’;

• introducing a new model for hedge accounting that permits greater flexibility in the ability to hedge risk, particularly with respect to non-financial items; and

• requiring impairment of financial assets carried at amortised cost to be based on an expected loss approach.

Although the members anticipate that the adoption of AASB 9 may have an impact on the Foundation’s financial instruments, it is not expected to have a material impact as the Foundation’s “Available For Sale Assets” are expected to be classified at fair value through Other Comprenhensive Income which is consistent with their current treatment.

AASB 15: Revenue from Contracts with Customers, AASB 2014-5: Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 15, AASB 2015-8: Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards - Effective Date of AASB 15, AASB 2016-3: Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards - Clarifications to AASB 15 and AASB 2016-7: Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards - Deferral of AASB 15 for Not-for-Profit Entities (applicable to for profit entities for annual reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2018 and to not-for-profit entities for annual reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2019).

AASB 15 will provide (except in relation to some specific exceptions, such as lease contracts and insurance contracts) a single source of accounting requirements for all contracts with customers, thereby replacing all current accounting pronouncements on revenue.



These Standards provide a revised principle for recognising and measuring revenue. Under AASB 15, revenue is recognised in a manner that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the provider of the goods or services expects to be entitled. To give effect to this principle, AASB 15 requires the adoption of the following 5-step model:

• identify the contract(s) with a customer;

• identify the performance obligations under the contract(s);

• determine the transaction price;

• allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations under the contract(s); and

• recognise revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the performance obligations.

AASB 15 also provides additional guidance to assist entities in applying the revised principle to licences of intellectual property, warranties, rights of return, principal/agent considerations and options for additional goods and services.

The Members do not expect that the adoption of AASB 15 will have a material impact on the Foundation’s reported revenue.

AASB 16: Leases (applicable for annual reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2019).

AASB 16 will replace AASB 117: Leases and introduces a single lessee accounting model that will require a lessee to recognise right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases with a term of more than 12 months, unless the underlying asset is of low value. Right-of-use assets are initially measured at their cost and lease liabilities are initially measured on a present value basis. Subsequent to initial recognition:

• right-of-use assets are accounted for on a similar basis to non-financial assets, whereby the right-of-use asset is accounted for in accordance with a cost model unless the underlying asset is accounted for on a revaluation basis, in which case if the underlying asset is:

• investment property, the lessee applies the fair value model in AASB 140: Investment Property to the right-of-use asset; or

• property, plant or equipment, the lessee can elect to apply the revaluation model in AASB 116: Property, Plant and Equipment to all of the right-of-use assets that relate to that class of property, plant and equipment; and

• lease liabilities are accounted for on a similar basis as other financial liabilities, whereby interest expense is recognised in respect of the liability and the carrying amount of the liability is reduced to reflect lease payments made.

AASB 16 substantially carries forward the lessor accounting requirements in AASB 117. Accordingly, under AASB 16 a lessor would continue to classify its leases as operating leases or finance leases subject to whether the lease transfers to the lessee substantially all of the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying asset, and would account for each type of lease in a manner consistent with the current approach under AASB 117.

The Members anticipate that the adoption of AASB 16 will have an impact on the Foundation’s accounting for its operating leases. Operating leases disclosed in Note 15 will be capitalised in to the Foundation’s Statement of Financial Position from the date of first adoption which will be 1 July 2019 for the Foundation.

38

2018 $

2017 $

Note 3: RevenueLegal Services Board Public Purpose Fund 1,880,739 1,849,298Managed funds distributions, dividends and other gains 115,381 181,898Profit / (loss) on sale of investments (29,352) 206,366

Other incomeImputation credits refund 17,213 22,877Sponsorship and project income 45,000 42,000Interest income 23,147 16,254

85,360 81,131Total revenue 2,052,128 2,318,693

Note 4: Surplus / deficit from continuing activitiesSurplus / (deficit) before income tax has been determined after:Profit / (loss) on sale of investments (29,352) 206,366Depreciation 24,951 26,745

Employee benefits:– Short term benefits 956,743 972,622– Other employee benefits 170,802 124,127

1,127,545 1,096,749Loss on sale of property, plant and equipment - 922Remuneration of auditors for:Pitcher Partners (Melbourne)Audit and assurance services– Audit of the financial report 21,500 20,000

Note 5: Cash and cash equivalentsCash on hand 54 220Cash at bank 63,189 101,081Cash on deposit 218,636 188,499

281,879 289,800

Note 6: Trade and other receivablesCurrentTrade debtors 10,980 3,850GST receivable 27,889 30,310Other debtors 43,427 55,302

82,296 89,462

Note 7: Other current assetsCurrentPrepayments 19,032 21,283



2018 $

2017 $

Note 8: Available-for-sale financial assetsNon-currentListed securities at fair valueDomestic listed 497,952 453,857Unlisted securities at fair valueDomestic equity 1,021,991 868,450Foreign equity 469,920 444,335Fixed interest 788,373 748,519

2,778,236 2,515,161

All assets listed above are measured and recognised as Level 1 assets under the fair value measurement hierarchy. All Foundation investment assets are measured based on available quoted prices traded on active financial markets.

Note 9: Plant and equipmentLeasehold improvements at cost 42,859 42,859Less accumulated depreciation (20,762) (16,332)

22,097 26,527

Library at cost 3,204 3,204Less accumulated depreciation (3,176) (3,174)

28 30

Furniture, fixtures and fittings at cost 89,990 89,990Less accumulated depreciation (76,625) (71,142)

13,365 18,848

Computer equipment at cost 95,815 88,868Less accumulated depreciation (58,893) (43,858)

36,922 45,010Total plant and equipment 72,412 90,415

(a) ReconciliationsReconciliation of the carrying amounts of plant and equipment at the beginning and end of the current financial year

Leasehold improvementsOpening carrying amount 26,527 27,257Additions - 3,300Depreciation expense (4,430) (4,030)Closing carrying amount 22,097 26,527

LibraryOpening carrying amount 30 33Depreciation expense (2) (3)Closing carrying amount 28 30

40

2018 $

2017 $

Note 9: Plant and equipment (continued)Furniture, fixtures and fittingsOpening carrying amount 18,848 24,385Additions - 2,110Disposals - (122)Depreciation expense (5,483) (7,525)Closing carrying amount 13,365 18,848

Computer equipmentOpening carrying amount 45,010 21,914Additions 6,948 40,365Disposals - (2,082)Depreciation expense (15,036) (15,187)Closing carrying amount 36,922 45,010

Total plant and equipmentCarrying amount at 1 July 90,415 73,589Additions 6,948 45,775Disposals - (2,204)Depreciation expense (24,951) (26,745)Carrying amount at 30 June 72,412 90,415

Note 10: Trade and other payablesCurrentUnsecured liabilitiesTrade creditors 52,536 27,332Sundry creditors and accruals 147,705 120,683

200,241 148,015

Note 11: ProvisionsCurrentEmployee benefits (a) 65,861 124,432Provision for approved grants 169,249 68,689

235,110 193,121Non-currentEmployee benefits (a) 9,775 4,152Provision for approved grants 11,000 11,064

20,775 15,216(a) Aggregate employee benefits liability 75,636 128,584



2018 $

2017 $

Note 12: ReservesAvailable-for-sale financial asset reserve 214,318 83,626

214,318 83,626The available-for-sale financial asset reserve is used to record movements in fair values of financial assets classified as available-for-sale.

Note 13: Accumulated fundsAccumulated funds at the beginning of the financial year 2,566,143 2,281,815Surplus / (deficit) attributable to the members of the entity (2,732) 284,328

2,563,411 2,566,143

Note 14: Cash flow information(a) Reconciliation of cashCash at the end of the financial year as shown in the Statement of Cash Flows is reconciled to the related items in the Statement of Financial Position as follows:Cash on hand 54 220Cash at bank 63,189 101,081At call deposits with financial institutions 218,636 188,499

281,879 289,800

(b) Reconciliation of cash flow from operations with profitSurplus / (deficit) from ordinary activities (2,732) 284,328

Adjustments and non-cash itemsDepreciation 24,951 26,745Net loss on disposal of plant and equipment - 922Net loss/(gain) on disposal of financial assets 29,352 (206,366)Reclassification of dividends and distributions received to investing activities (115,381) (181,898)Reclassification of recoupment of imputation credits received to investing activities

(17,213) (22,877)

Changes in operating assets and liabilitiesIncrease in receivables (5,839) -Decrease / (increase) in other assets 2,251 (2,859)Increase / (decrease) in payables 25,204 (9,143)Increase in other liabilities 27,022 59,095(Decrease) / increase in provisions (52,948) 24,738Increase / (decrease) in grant provisions 100,497 (24,767)

17,896 (336,410)Cash flows from operating activities 15,164 (52,082)

42

2018 $

2017 $

Note 15: Capital and leading commitmentsOperating lease commitmentsNon-cancellable operating leases contracted for but not capitalised in the financial statements:Payable– not later than one year 22,641 83,364

– later than one year and not later than five years 8,400 20,541

31,041 103,905

Operating lease commitments represent rental agreements for the Victoria Law Foundation office and a photocopier.

Note 16: Financial risk managementThe Foundation is exposed to the following financial risks in respect to the financial instruments that it held at the end of the reporting period:

(a) market price risk

(b) interest rate risk

(c) credit risk

(d) liquidity risk

(e) fair values

The Foundation’s board has overall responsibility for identifying and managing operational and financial risks.

The Foundation does not use derivative instruments to manage risks associated with its financial instruments.

(a) Other market risk

Other market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices (other than those arising from interest rate risk or currency risk).

The Foundation may have a material exposure to market price risk.

Sensitivity

Unrealised fair value movements in investments are taken directly to equity. Fair values are measured at reporting date based on current bid prices. If security prices were to increase/decrease by 5% from fair values as at the reporting date, assuming all other variables that might impact on fair value remain constant, then the impact on equity is as follows:

2018 $

2017 $

Listed securities+ / - 5% price variationImpact on equity 24,898 22,693Unlisted securities+ / - 5% price variationImpact on equity 114,014 103,065



(b) Interest rate risk

Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate as a result of changes in market interest rates.

All investments held by the Foundation are non-interest bearing except for cash and fixed interest available-for-sale financial assets.

The effective weighted average interest rate on cash is 1.05% (2017: 0.84%). Fixed interest investments have a fair value of $788,373 (2017: $748,519) which is subject to fluctuation as a result of interest rate risk. The impact of reasonably possible movements in interest rates at year end are not considered to be material.

The Foundation does not have a material exposure to interest rate risk.

No other financial assets or financial liabilities are expected to be exposed to interest rate risk.

(c) Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk that one party to a financial instrument will cause a financial loss for the other party by failing to discharge an obligation.

The maximum exposure to credit risk, excluding the value of any collateral or other security, at balance date of recognised financial assets is the carrying amount of those assets, net of any provisions for impairment of those assets, as disclosed in statement of financial position and notes to financial statements.

The Foundation does not have any material credit risk exposure to any single debtor or group of debtors under financial instruments entered into by the Foundation.

(d) Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that an entity will encounter difficulty in meeting obligations associated with financial liabilities.

The Foundation manages liquidity risk by monitoring forecast cashflows and ensuring that adequate liquid funds are available to meet normal operating expenses. When necessary cash may be sourced from liquidation of available-for-sale financial instruments, but only with board approval.

Maturity analysis

The table below represents the undiscounted contractual settlement terms for financial instruments and managements expectation for settlement of undiscounted maturities.

< 12 months $

1–5 years $

Total contractual cash flows

$

Carrying amount

$

Year ended 30 June 2018Cash and cash equivalents 281,879 - 281,879 281,879Receivables 82,296 - 82,296 82,296Other financial assets - 2,778,236 2,778,236 2,778,236Payables (200,241) - (200,241) (200,241)Net maturities 163,934 2,778,236 2,942,170 2,942,170

Year ended 30 June 2017Cash and cash equivalents 289,800 - 289,800 289,800Receivables 89,462 - 89,462 89,462Other financial assets - 2,515,161 2,515,161 2,515,161Payables (148,015) - (148,015) (148,015)Net maturities 231,247 2,515,161 2,746,408 2,746,408

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Note 16: Financial risk management (continued)(e) Fair values compared with carrying amounts

The fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities approximates their carrying amounts as disclosed in statement of financial position and notes to financial statements.

Note 17: Fair value measurement(a) Fair Value Hierarchy

The following table provides the fair value classification of those assets and liabilities held by the group that are measured either on a recurring or non-recurring basis at fair value.

Level 1 $

Level 2 $

Level 3 $

Total $

2018Recurring fair value measurementsFinancial assetsFinancial assets at fair valueDomestic listed 497,952 - - 497,952Domestic equity 1,021,991 - - 1,021,991Foreign equity 469,920 - - 469,920Unlisted fixed interest 788,373 - - 788,373Total financial assets 2,778,236 - - 2,778,236

2017

Recurring fair value measurementsFinancial assetsFinancial assets at fair valueDomestic listed 453,857 - - 453,857Domestic equity 868,450 - - 868,450Foreign equity 444,335 - - 444,335Unlisted fixed interest 748,519 - - 748,519Total financial assets 2,515,161 2,515,161

(b) Transfers between recurring level 1 and level 2 fair value measurements

There were no transfers between level 1 and level 2 during the year.



Note 18: Related party transactions(a) Transactions with other related parties

Victoria Law Foundation board members are also board members of the following organisations who received grants and provided sponsorship income (inclusive of GST) as documented below:

Fitzroy Legal Service received a total approved grant amount of $2,400 during the 2018 financial year (2017: $2,200). Claudia Fatone is the EO of Fitzroy Legal Service.

Law Institute of Victoria provided sponsorship income of $5,500 during the 2018 financial year (2017: $5,500). Belinda Wilson is a Director of the Law Institute of Victoria.

Victoria Bar Association provided sponsorship income of $5,500 during the 2018 financial year (2017: $5,500). Elizabeth Brimer is a Member of the Victoria Bar Association.

The related parties disclosed above are not involved in the decisions with respect to the approval of grants to their related organisations.

Note 19: Events subsequent to reporting dateThere has been no matter or circumstance, which has arisen since 30 June 2018 that has significantly affected or may significantly affect:

(a) the operations, in financial years subsequent to 30 June 2018, of the Foundation, or (b) the results of those operations, or (c) the state of affairs, in financial years subsequent to 30 June 2018, of the Foundation.

Note 20: Foundation detailsThe principal place of business of the Foundation is:

Victoria Law Foundation Level 5 43 Hardware Lane Melbourne VIC 3000

46

Foundation Members’ Declaration

The members of the Foundation declare that:

1. The financial statements and notes, as set out on pages 27–45 presents fairly the Foundation’s financial position as at 30 June 2018 and performance for the year ended on that date of the Foundation in accordance with Accounting Standards in Australia and other mandatory professional reporting requirements in Australia;

2. there are reasonable grounds to believe that the registered entity is able to pay all of its debts, as and when they become due and payable; and

3. the financial statements and notes satisfy the requirements of the AustralianCharitiesandNot-for-profitsCommissionAct2012 and the Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009.

Signed in accordance with subsection 60.15(2) of the AustralianCharitiesandNot-for-profitCommissionRegulation 2013.

The Honourable Hartley Hansen QC Member

Stephen Roche Member

Dated this 5th day of September 2018

47

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Victoria Law Foundation

Report on the Audit of the Financial Report

OpinionWe have audited the financial report of Victoria Law Foundation, “the Foundation”, which comprises the statement of financial position as at 30 June 2018, the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies, and the foundation members’ declaration.

In our opinion, the accompanying financial report of Victoria Law Foundation, is in accordance with the Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009, including:

(a) giving a true and fair view of the Foundation’s financial position as at 30 June 2018 and of its financial performance for the year then ended; and

(b) complying with Australian Accounting Standards, the AustralianCharitiesandNot-for-profitsCommissionAct2012 and the Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009.

Basis for OpinionWe conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report section of our report. We are independent of the Foundation in accordance with the AustralianCharitiesandNot-for-profitsCommissionAct2012 “ACNC Act”, Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 and the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board’s APES 110 CodeofEthicsforProfessional Accountants “the Code” that are relevant to our audit of the financial report in Australia. We have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Other InformationThe directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Foundation’s annual report for the year ended 30 June 2018, but does not include the financial report and our auditor’s report thereon.

Our opinion on the financial report does not cover the other information and accordingly we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial report, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial report or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Financial Report

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in accordance with the financial reporting requirements of the Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation and fair presentation of a financial report that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

An independent Victorian Partnership ABN 27 975 255 196 Pitcher Partners is an association of independent firms Level 13, 664 Collins Street, Docklands VIC 3008 Melbourne | Sydney | Perth | Adelaide | Brisbane | Newcastle Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation An independent member of Baker Tilly International

48

In preparing the financial report, management is responsible for assessing the Foundation’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters relating to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Foundation or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.

Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing the Foundation’s financial reporting process.

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of this financial report.

As part of an audit in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Foundation’s internal control.

• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the directors.

• Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Foundation’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial report or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Foundation to cease to continue as a going concern.

• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial report, including the disclosures, and whether the financial report represents the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation. We communicate with the directors regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

B POWERS PITCHER PARTNERS Partner Melbourne

Date: 6 September 2018

An independent Victorian Partnership ABN 27 975 255 196 Pitcher Partners is an association of independent firms Level 13, 664 Collins Street, Docklands VIC 3008 Melbourne | Sydney | Perth | Adelaide | Brisbane | Newcastle Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation An independent member of Baker Tilly International

Legal Laneway Breakfast 2018In February each year, the Foundation hosts the Legal Laneway Breakfast in Hardware Lane to celebrate the opening of the legal year.

‘The Foundation provides a wealth of material that helps students to develop more informed opinions of the law and its effect on them and the broader community.’Pierina FenechLegal Studies Teacher

Victoria Law Foundation helps Victorians understand the law and their legal system. We are a not-for-profit organisation funded by the Victorian Legal Services Board Public Purpose Fund.

Victoria Law Foundation Level 5, 43 Hardware Lane Melbourne Vic 3000 Australia T (03) 9604 8100 F (03) 9602 2449 [email protected]

@VicLawFoundn

See our website at www.victorialawfoundation.org.au

© Victoria Law Foundation 2018 ISSN 1837 6827 (print); 2202-6959 (online) PR18-37

Disclaimer: This publication is a guide only. While due care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the material contained in this publication, Victoria Law Foundation cannot take responsibility for any errors, nor do the references and web links to products and services of other organisations constitute endorsement.

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